SANTA CLARITA — An internationally recognized authority on the Chinese economy will be one of the opening speakers at the Expanding Business with China conference, May 3, at the Valencia Hyatt.      Dr. Barry Naughton, professor of Chinese Economy and the Sokwanlok Chair of Chinese International Affairs at the University of California, San Diego, is known for his expertise on issues relating to Chinese industry, trade, finance, and China’s transition to a market economy.
    A conference organizer, Peter Bellas, Director of the Center for Applied Competitive Technology (CACT) at College of the Canyons, said “Naughton’s presentation, ‘China, Opportunity with Caution’ will fine tune conference attendees understanding of trade between China and U.S. companies,” because the professor’s recent research focuses on regional
economic growth in the People’s Republic of China and the relationship between foreign trade and investment and regional growth.
    Naughton is completing a general textbook on the Chinese economy and has recently completed projects focusing on the relationship between the development of the electronics industry in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, and the growth of trade and investment among those economies.
    Bellas said California business and industry people, and students planning to work in the future global economy will not want to miss the opportunity to learn how to tap into China’s growing economic opportunities. He said Naughton’s expertise and focus on trade and technology will be very valuable. 
    A co-author of three collaborative books, Naughton’s own 1995 book, Growing Out of the Plan: Chinese Economic Reform, 1978-1993, is a comprehensive study of China’s development from a planned to a market economy that traces the distinctive strategy of transition followed by China, as well as China’s superior growth performance. The book received the Ohira Memorial Prize in 1996.
    For information about the conference and to register go to www.chinabusinessconference.com, or call the CACT at (661) 259-3874.